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One of the first things you notice when you start working for yourself is that you work for yourself. It’s not just a motivational poster anymore. It’s you, alone, steering the ship. Every decision matters. Every mistake is yours. This realization can feel exhilarating — and terrifying.
Over time, you get better at managing the chaos. The panic subsides, and the wins get bigger. But the mistakes? They don’t stop. They just change shape.
I still remember standing up during an all-hands meeting at Nav, the company I co-founded, to reaffirm our commitment to equality across gender, race, and identity. I referenced